Lot
4472 
Confederacy, Camp Ford Prison, Tyler Tex., incoming prisoner cover addressed to "Young Whitlock, Prisoner of War, Camp Ford near Tyler, Texas", franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Marshall, Ill., Sep 19" cds, reverse with "Prisoner of War 1864" docketing; cover with couple small tears and edge wear professionally restored, Very Fine appearance. Scott No. U.S. #65 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A VERY RARE INCOMING PRISONER OF WAR COVER FROM CAMP FORD PRISON, WITH ONLY FIVE COVERS RECORDED IN HARRISON.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
4473
Confederacy, Camp Ford Prison, Tyler Tex., prisoner of war folded letter with "Camp Ford Military Prison, Tyler, Texas, Jan. 16, 1865" dateline, addressed to Marietta Oh. and bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by target duplexed with "New Orleans La. Mar 17 '65" cds, manuscript "Flag of Truce" on address panel and matching endorsement on back "Exm & forwarded, Ig. Szymanski, Asst Agt. of Exchange, C.S.A." in four lines; minor stamp faults; Fine. Scott No. 65 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A VERY RARE SOUTHERN PRISON COVER, THIS BEING ONE OF ONLY 5 COVERS RECORDED.
The letter is from Andrew W. McCormick who enlisted as a Captain in Company G of the 77th OH Infantry on October 21, 1861. He was wounded and taken prisoner on April 8, 1862 at Falling Timber TN. He was later exchanged and taken prisoner again at Mark's Mills, Ark. on April 25, 1864. He was later promoted to Lt. Col. by Brevet on March 13, 1865.
He writes about conditions at Camp Ford including, "We are well treated here - fare much better than I did while in George in 1862. We have build comfortable winter quarters, and as the rations are as good as the Southern soldiers get and the U.S. government sent us some blankets and clothing we fare pretty well. But it is very hard to be happy away from the loved ones at home…The health of our regiment is better now. We have lost 34 since here by deaths…".
Realized: $2,800
Lot
4474
Confederacy, Alexandria Parole Camp, Alexandria Va., dark orange cover with "Alexandria Va., Aug 29 1864" cds and matching "Due 3" rating handstamp, addressed to "Mrs. Ruth Clark, Lincoln, Vt.", manuscript "Samuel M. Kelly, Lt. Col" examiner's marking and endorsed on reverse "Aug 20, 1864, Thomas E. Clark"; reduced a bit at left, corner repaired at lower right, F.-V.F., One of only four recorded covers to or from Alexandria Parole Camp. Estimate $500 - 750.
Thomas E. Clark was in the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery. This cover was pictured by Harrison on page 239.
Realized: $400
Lot
4475
Confederacy, (Charlestown Prison, Va.) Addressed to John Brown as Prisoner at Charlestown Prison, Nov. 26, 1859, 3¢ red on buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by "Baltimore Md. Nov 26" cds and addressed to "John Brown, Charlestown Va." with "Charlestown Prison" and "Private" endorsements at lower left, additional note "Anonymous Baltimore Rescue" at left; slight soiling, Very Fine, ex-Antrim. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $700
Lot
4476
Confederacy, Danville Prison, Building #3, Danville, Va., yellow prisoner's cover with original letter datelined "Danville Va Prison No 3 April 21st 1864", addressed to Mr. E. Rockhold at Bainbridge Oh., pencil "Exd, MM" examiner's marking for Major Mason Morfit, the Commander of Danville, entered U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va. May 2" cds and matching "Due 3" rating; light soiling and stain, Fine, Harrison records only two covers from Building #3, with thirty-five total covers known from all Danville prisons., ex-Harrison, Walske. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
The short letter mentions hope for exchange and that some prisoners were transferred a week earlier but he does not know where. This mostly refers to a transfer to Andersonville that became operational February 27, 1864. Corporal Rockhold would later be transferred to Andersonville himself. He also spent some time at Libby Prison and survived his 15 months of confinement.
Danville Building #3 is listed as the officer's building by Harrison (proof. 72).
Realized: $525
Lot
4477
Confederacy, Danville Prison, Building #3, Danville, Va., prisoner cover to Mrs. J. Moody in Philadelphia, Pa., bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by quartered cork with "Old Point Comfort, Va., Jul 24" cds alongside, prisoner "James Moody, Co. K. 7th Regt Penna Reserves, Prisoner of War" endorsement at left, with original enclosure datelined Danville, Va., May 14/64 with message of capture…We are confined in a Large Tobacco Warehouse and "Prison No. 3" return address; backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Antrim (backstamp). Scott No. U.S. 65 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE DANVILLE PRISON PRISONER OF WAR USAGE, ONLY TWO RECORDED USAGES FROM BUILDING #3 IN HARRISON.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
4478
Confederacy, Danville Prison, Building #4, Danville, Va., small 1864 folded letter to Waterboro P.O. in Ohio, across the lines with "Old Point Comfort, Va., Apr 19" cds and matching straight line "Due 3" handstamp, endorsed "Prisoner Letter" at left, letter datelined "Danville, Va., March the 21, 1864" with sending address "Danville, Va., Prison No.4, Via Fortress Monroe", Very Fine and choice, ex-Walske. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE USAGE FROM DANVILLE PRISON #4, ONLY FIVE SUCH COVERS FROM THIS PRISON KNOWN.
This is pictured in Harrison's Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War on page 74.
Lot
4479
Confederacy, Danville Prison, Building #5, Danville, Va., 1864 prisoner of war cover addressed to Mr. B. Sells in Georgetown, Ohio, with "Old Point Comfort, Va., Feb 23" cds and "Due 6" circled handstamp, manuscript "Prisoner of War" and "Ex" examiner's marking, with original enclosure signed "Prison No. 5, Danville, Va.", Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY 7 RECORDED COVERS FROM THE DANVILLE PRISON #5 BUILDING.
Realized: $850
Lot
4480
Confederacy, Danville Prison, Building #6, Danville, Va., turned prisoner cover bearing CSA 1863, 10¢ greenish blue cancelled by manuscript on cover addressed to "Thos. O Connell, Prison No. 6, Danville, Virginia" and endorsed "Care Genl Winder, Richmond Va" and manuscript "Exd./H.W." examiner's marking of Henry Wassels, Commissary of Prisoners, stamp torn off at upper right, open on three sides and two flaps missing, Fine, Only two covers are known to or from Building #6. Scott No. 12c Estimate $500 - 750.
Brig. General Henry Walton Wessells graduated West Point in 1833. After serving at Kinston, Goldsboro and New Berne, he was placed over the sub-district of the Albemarle, taking command May 3, 1863. On April 17, 1864, he was attacked at Plymouth N.C. by Gen. Robert F. Hoke where he was vastly outnumbered. After a gallant defense that last three days, Gen. Wessels surrendered. He was taken to Libby prison and from there transferred successively to Danville, Macon and Charleston. At the last-named place he was one of the officers placed under the fire of the Union batteries on Morris Island - the Union "600". On Aug. 3, 1864, he was exchanged, and on Nov. 11 he became Commissary of Prisoners, which post he held until the close of the war. He was promoted Lt. Colonel Feb. 16, 1865 and breveted Colonel to date from April 20, 1864 "for gallant and meritorious services during the rebel attack on Plymouth, N.C." On March 13, he was given the regular army brevet of brigadier-general, He then served on the northwestern frontier till January 1, 1871 when he retired.
The prison at Danville consisted of six tobacco warehouses plus a hospital. They were used November 1863 through the end of the war. This building housed many Federal soldiers captured in the battle of the Crater in Petersburg in July 1864.
Lot
4481
Confederacy, Belle Island Prison, Richmond Va., orange prisoner-of-war cover to Mr. Abner Bane in Washington Pa. with original letter from Pvt. Sample S. Bane datelined "Richmond Va. Dec the 10th 1863", endorsed "By Flag of Truce", no censor marks, bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ Rose tied by "Old Point Comfort Va. Feb. 1" cds, contents include a request for provisions "Direct it to Richmond Va. Belle Island Prisoner of War."; stamp flaws and cover soiling, Fine and rare, ex-Walske. Scott No. U.S. #65 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A VERY SCARCE P.O.W. LETTER FROM BELLE ISLAND, HARRISON RECORDS ONLY EIGHT KNOWN.
Sample S. Bane was a private in the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, after Belle Island he was transferred to Andersonville Prison where he died less than two months after this letter was written.